Weekly Email: June 30, 2025
In this week’s email:
Student Tip: True discipline and intentional living
Program News: Free Microsoft Office for SBTS students
Student Tip: Discipline and the Quiet Art of Intentional Living
I’ve talked about this before, but it’s worth revisiting often. Many of us live with the belief that we must feel motivated to accomplish meaningful work. The truth is, motivation is unreliable. It comes and goes. Often, it disappears right when you need it most. That’s why discipline, not motivation, is your most important tool as you navigate the rigor of theological education.
The Myth of Constant Motivation
You’ve likely lived this scenario. A paper is due, readings are piling up, and your schedule is already packed with family or ministry commitments. The alarm goes off, and you’re not excited. You feel tired. Maybe even discouraged. That doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It means you’re human.
Even the people who seem to have it all together feel that same resistance. Your favorite professor publishing regularly, the writer with a weekly blog, and the ministry leader you admire all experience the same inner friction. What sets them apart is not constant inspiration. It is the habit of consistent discipline.
Brad Stulberg, a writer on high performance, defines discipline as
Discipline is doing the things you need to do to build the life you want and to be useful to the people counting on you.
Notice what’s missing. There is no mention of feelings or motivation. Discipline is about showing up and doing the work, especially when it doesn’t feel easy.
The Power of Beginning
One simple mindset shift can make a big difference. You don’t have to feel motivated to begin. Most of the time, the act of starting is what creates momentum. It rarely works in the other direction.
Here are a few practical ways to build this kind of discipline:
Build a modest routine. Choose one small, repeatable time to work. It could be after dinner or early in the morning. Use a few simple rituals to cue your mind. A cup of coffee, a cleared desk, or a note taped to your Bible can help create consistency.
Redefine success. Instead of saying, “I have to finish the paper,” try saying, “I will write for 45 minutes.” This shifts the goal from completion to effort. It lowers the barrier and makes the work more sustainable.
Embrace deeper freedom. Discipline may feel limiting at first. It might seem like you are giving something up. But over time, it gives you more freedom. You gain freedom to be prepared, to be present with your family, and to invest more deeply in your ministry.
Expect resistance. If you feel hesitation or dread, that is normal. Resistance usually means the work is important. Do not wait for it to go away. Start anyway.
Discipline is the quiet art of intentional living. It creates space for what matters most: your family, your ministry, and your personal and spiritual formation.
Rethinking What Discipline Looks Like
We often picture discipline as harsh and demanding. We imagine early alarms, strict routines, or a coach shouting instructions. But most of the time, discipline looks very different. It is quiet, steady, and almost invisible. It is the ordinary act of keeping a promise to yourself.
Jerry Seinfeld once explained his approach to writing jokes. He did not wait for inspiration. Instead, he focused on consistency. Every day, he wrote one joke and marked a red X on his calendar. That was his system. One joke per day. Not brilliance. Just commitment.
Personally, for me, sometimes showing up means opening my laptop, staring at a blank screen, and resisting the urge to check my phone. Some days I write a sentence. Other days I just sit there. Yes, this can be frustrating, but I know that if I don’t show up today, the temptation to skip tomorrow will be even stronger. But the act of being present, without distractions, still forms something. That is discipline. You show up, even when it feels like nothing is happening.
A Final Word
Discipline is not about perfection. It is about presence. It is not about pushing harder just to check a box. It is about being faithful to the things that matter, especially when it is difficult.
This week, do not wait to feel ready. Start. Keep a simple rhythm. Redefine success as steady effort. Trust that God often does his most formative work in the quiet moments. Over time, these ordinary acts of faithfulness will shape your learning, your ministry, and your life.
Program News: Free Microsoft Office for SBTS Students
Did you know that as a Southern Seminary student you get free access to the Microsoft Office suite? If you haven’t already done so, you can sign up from this page.
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